Gate operating means



Nov. 21, 1939. F, A DUFFE 2,180,803

GATE OPERATING MEANS Filed Sept. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l \O L I l \0 I1 l 1 N Nov. 21, 1939. F. A. DUFFE GATE OPERATING MIEANS Filed Sept. 8,1958 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 21, 1939 GATE OPERATING MEANS FrankA. Duffe, Wilton- Junction, Iowa Application September8, 1938, SerialNo. 229,039

1 Claim. (01,. a es) This invention relates to a gate operating means,and it is an object of the invention to provide a means of this'kindwhich can beread- 4 ily operated upon approaching 'the 'gat'e fromeither side to swing the same into open position or to move thesame-into closed position after passing through the gateway togetherwith means assuring the locking of the gate when in fully closedposition. v

The invention consists infdetails of construction and in the combinationand arrangement of the several parts of my improved gate operating meanswhereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. i

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed/ In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 willnow proceed to describe the same with referenceto the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: I I 4 Figure 1 is an elevational view of gateoperating means constructed in accordance with an embodiment of myinvention, thegate being in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view in topplan of the struc ture as illustrated in Figurel, a second position of certain of the parts being indicated by brokenlines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View illustrating aportion of the operating means in an adjustment when the gate is in apartially closed position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the latch post and aportion of the closed gate;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line6-6 of Figure 1; Figure-7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of oneend portion of the elbow member-as herein embodied;

Figure 8 is a fragmentaryview in perspective of the opposite end portionof said elbow memher as herein comprised.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, .l indicates a gate posthaving hung thereon, as at 2, in a conventional manner a swinging gateG, the free end'portion of which coacts with the latch post 3. The post3 has suitably secured thereto, as by the removable screws 4 or thelike, a keeper 5 with which is adaptedto coact the locking latch 6. Thislatch 6 as herein disclosed constitutes" an angular or ofan elongatedrod 1.

This rod i is rotatably'supported adjacent to crank-like extremity theouter end of the gate G by a bearing 8 extending outwardly from-a leg 9of a bracket l6. As herein disclosed and as particularly il lustratedinFigure 6, this bracket l0 is in the form of an inverted U andstraddles from above one of the horizontally disposed bars'll comprisedin the structure of the gate G. The second' leg E2 of the bracket illhas threaded there'- through a holding or binding screw l4 for clampingthe bracket ill inposition upon the bar- II.

'This particular construction and mounting of the bracket to allows thesame .to be raised or lowered'as may be required to assure the mosteffective positioning of the latch'6for coaction with the keeper 5.

The rod 1 length 'of the gate G and'at the hinge end porextendssubstantially the entire tion of the gate G the rod 1 is rotatablysupported by a vertically disposed bar l5 comprised in the structure ofthe gate G. This end portion of the rod 1 may, however, be otherwisemounted f as preferred. 1 I

The inner end portion of the'rod l, or that end portion adjacent to thehinge end of the gate, G, carries an outwardly and laterally dire'ctedrock arm I6 of desired length, '-As herein disclosed the free endportion of this arm 16 is formed to provide an eye member ll whichfreely interlocks ,With an eye member [8 carried by an end portion of asubstantially rigid elongatedarm or link l9. The opposite end portion ofthe arm or link l9;is pivotally connected, as at '20, with an endportion of alatch bar 2|.

This latch bar 2| is pivotally connected, as at 22, at a point slightlyto one side of its longitudinal center to an elongated operating memberor bar 23.

In the present embodiment of my inventionthis latch member or bar 23 isflat with .its flattened faces vertically disposed except at one endthere-,-

of where the member or bar 23 is quarter turned,

as at 24, for pivotal connection, as at 25, with the outer portion of anelbow member 26 carried by the gate G .and {extending outwardly andlaterally from a sidelof the gate.

As herein disc'losedthis elbow member 26 isformed of' an angle rail andat one end portion this elbow member 26 has a flange continued by a ing21 with which coacts a U-clamping ,member 28, said member being also inengage-.

ment with the adjacent end vertical bar 29 comprised in the structure ofthe gate G. The opposite end portion of the elbow member 26 is formed toprovide an upstanding lug 36 securely held by a U-shaped clamp 3| to asecuring bar 32. This lug 36 is formed by striking up an end portion ofone of the flanges a of the elbow mem ber 26 and the adjacent endportion b overlies the securing bar 32 and is held to such bar by theU-clamp 33.- The bar 32 is securely held to the gate G and in a verticalposition by the U-clamps 34 and 35. The U-clamp 34, as herein disclosed,straddles the upper portion of the bar 32 and the adjacent upperhorizontal member ll of the gate structure. The lower clamp 35 straddlesthe lower horizontal member II and is secured to the bar 32.

By the use of the clamps 34 and 35 the bar 32 may be readily placed asdesired upon the structure of the gate G and the U-clamps 3| and 33permit a selective adjustment of the connection of the elbow member 26with said bar 32. The clamping members 28 also permit a similarselective adjustment of the outer end of this elbow-member 26.

An end portion of the operating member or bar 23 laps a rock lever 36and at a desired distance inwardly of its outer or freeend the member orbar 23 is'pivotally connected, asat 3'5, to the lever 36 at a pointsubstantially central of said lever. This rock lever 36 at one endportion is pivotally connected, as at 36, to a post 39 or its equivalentpositioned to one side of the post I and substantially in alignment withthe posts l and 3. v The'outer or free end portion of the lever 36 hassuitably anchored thereto, as at 40, a flexible member 4! which iscontinued by the separate flexible members 42. These members 42 aredisposed oversuitably supported pulleys 43 comprised in the pulley frame44 depending from a supporting arm 45 carried by the upper portion ofthe post 39. These flexible members-'42 lead to the guide pulleys 46carried by the upper portions of the posts 4'! at opposite sides of thegate post I and at predetermined distances removed therefrom. The freeextremity of each of the members 42 can be readily grasped by theoccupant of a vehicle approaching the gate from either direction tothrow the lever 36 to open the gate or to close the gate. k

When the gate G is fully closed the lever 36 extends in a generaldirection toward thepost I and when the gate is in its fully openposition, this lever 36 is oppositely disposed or directed as generallyindicated by dotted lines in Figure ,2.

When the gate is fully closed upon initial raising of the lever 36, thelatch bar 2! allows the rod l to rock in a direction to release thelatch 6 from the keeper 5 so that the gate G may be swung into openposition. As the gate G is swung into closed position the lever 36 willcontact with the adjacent end portion of the latch bar 2] and rock thesame in a direction to impose pull upon the rock arm l9 of the rod 1 tothrow the latch 6 into locking engagement withthe keeper 5 and tomaintain the latch in such position until such time when the lever 36 isagain raised or swung upwardly.

' The member or bar 23 and the elbow member 26 are operatively engagedby a retractile member 48, herein disclosed as a conventional coilspring/which serves to prevent the gate from stopping at an intermediateposition as it will be obvious that the latch bar or member 23 will atall times have a pull exerted thereon.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a gateoperating means constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenienceandfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it willalso be obvioperating member operatively engaged with the gate andpivotally connected to the, rock lever, means for swinging. the rocklever to open or close the gate, a latch bar pivotally mounted on theoperating member, an operative connection between the latch bar and therocking latch for swinging the latch into released position uponswingingmovement of the latch bar in one di- 7 rection, the rock levercontacting with the latch bar upon closing of the gate to swing saidlatch bar in a direction to swing the latch into locking position, andmeans for vertically adjusting the latch and holding the same inselective adjusted position.

- FRANK A. DUFFE.

